Nothing says summer like wicker and rattan furniture. But these casual, breezy furnishings that are trending right now, can add classic, laid-back style to your home year round. And while originally more outdoor porch and patio furniture, now they have come inside to stay!
Natural woven materials like cane, rattan, seagrass, willow, and banana leaves are popular for their nod to the outdoors and the wonderful texture and warmth they add to a room.
SO - what is the difference between wicker, cane, bamboo, and rattan?
First of all wicker is not a material at all, but rather the process of weaving these, and other natural materials (and their synthetic cousins) into furniture. It is also the catchall term for this style of woven furniture.
Bamboo is technically a grass, albeit a very sturdy grass that can grow to over 98 feet tall! It is hollow and harder than mahogany.
Rattan is a vine related to the palm tree. It does not get as large or grow as tall as bamboo. Unlike bamboo, it has a solid core. It can be woven or steamed and bent into shapes (whereas bamboo cannot), and it is extremely strong.
Cane is the outer bark of the rattan plant and is very strong and flexible. It is most commonly woven in a classic web pattern and often used to create chair seats and backs (like the classic Breuer chairs and bentwood rockers we ALL had at one point or another!). It is also used to bind pieces together or as a flat wrapping. Cane is durable and also the least porous of the materials making it resistant to spills.
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Rattan dining chairs are a classic that works with any style. This luscious dining room by Allison Speers is full of gorgeous pieces from the dark painted chairs to the natural toned sideboard.
Allison Spears via Chairish
Wicker chairs and tables reminiscent of southern sun porches can add a dose of textural contrast to any room. This sunny library space across from the kitchen in Mark D Sikes Hollywood home has a breezy coastal sun porch feel with the addition of a casual striped rug and wicker chairs all in the colors of earth and sky.
Mark D Sikes Hollywood family room via One Kings Lane
In this picture from Mark D Sikes new More Beautiful book (which I just ordered!), rattan chairs and sisal rugs add warmth to this Monticito Living room and tone down the formality. Mark is a genius at layering textures and patterns. Studying his rooms is a masterclass in casual elegant style.
Monticito living room from Mark D Sikes book More Beautiful via Veranda
Furnishings of all kinds can be found in these materials and I’ve rounded up a few favorites that can offer breezy style and refresh any room.
These seating pieces range from a coastal casual armchair, to rattan bistro dining chairs - which I need for my own kitchen refresh! - to this indoor/oudoor round daybed. It’s like a dog bed for people - the perfect place to curl up for a nap!
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This round ottoman is the perfect casual coffee table/footstool to serve a seating group of four chairs. The wicker trunks double as storage and coffee table or could serve as a bench at the foot of a bed. And the square wicker trunk is a great coffee table/ottoman for a family room space with a place to stash games, toys, or extra blankets and throws.
This stylish rattan tea cart can serve as a drinks station or a side table depending on the day - it can even move outside as the need arises! The blue rattan table (other finishes available) works as a side table for sofas or chairs and would make a great bedside table as well. And, be still my heart, wicker and scallops in the same piece? Yes please! This whimsical design is versatile enough to serve chair or bedside as well. I can see this painted a bright color for a fun accent piece.
These beds add an exotic, tropical touch to the bedroom. From sculptural rattan, to woven banana leaf, to a refined black/caned piece (available in other finishes) these beds are a great way to create drama and style with the most important piece in the room!
A rattan bed | B woven banana leaf bed | C inset caned bed (available in other finishes)
I believe wicker and rattan furniture is a trend that is here to stay - a classic. It has gained popularity of late because it not only adds style, warmth, and a touch of exoticism to a room, it is also an eco-friendly sustainable option. Wicker and rattan products are made from fast growing, easily renewable plant materials that are strong and durable. What’s not to love?
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